FTSE STI closed 3,449.30, down 2.98 points or -0.09% with a total volume of 2.88b and a total value of S$1.04b. Total number of advance vs decline was 227 vs 202. Of the 30 component index stocks, 11 closed positive, 6 unchanged and 13 in the red. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. DBS +0.180
2. KepCorp +0.050
3. GLP +0.040
4. Wilmar +0.040
5. SingTel +0.020
5. SIA Engg +0.020
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ -1.320
2. Jardine C&C -0.620
3. SIA -0.520
4. JSH 500US$ -0.350
5. StarHub -0.070
US markets closed negative yesterday after weekly jobless claims data came in higher than expected. Asian bourses were mostly positive for the day with Nikkei +0.67%, SSE +1.38% and HSI +0.17%. STI after days of closing positive decided to take a pause and closed -0.09% in a rather thin value day but increasing volume as compared with past days. Only 11 of the 30 index stocks managed to register positive closing.
US markets taking a pause and with higher than expected weekly jobless claims data that was a good excuse to take some profit. Asian bourses after past days of taking a pause resume the uptrend except for STI taking a pause for the day. It was not much of an eventful day as lacking of economic data.
Singapore released its April non-oil export data coming in at -1.0% on year vs -2.3% expected. That gave Singapore economy a relief for the time being and Singapore export might have bottom out. STI however after days of positive closing (only 2 days for this months posted negative closing) decided to take a breather and closed flat in thin value day but with increasing volume, indicating activity dominated by penny stocks as the blue chips taking a break. It is about time global markets taking a half-time break for the 2nd leg up, next week should be a profit taking week to see some pull back.
